Carleton University’s Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership released a major report today about creating gender inclusive leadership in a Canadian industry that will require more than 75,000 new workers in less than a decade.
Despite the looming labour shortage and the fact that an increasing number of female university graduates have completed engineering and technology-related programs, women remain under-represented in all of the industry’s employment opportunities, from entrance positions to leadership posts.
At about 18 per cent, women’s employment in the mining industry is very low compared to other key sectors like finance (61.53 per cent), tourism and transport (45.21 per cent) and energy (24.6 per cent).
The centre’s report, written by Executive Director Clare Beckton and researcher Umut Riza Ozkan, includes the results of an extensive literature review, one-on-one interviews, focus group sessions and a critical conversation at Carleton University that brought together senior representatives from mining companies, government, mining associations, Aboriginal groups, unions, academia and non-governmental organizations.
“We hope that this report will provide this vital industry with some very practical steps to increase the number of women in the mining sector,’’ said Ms. Beckton. “We have a much deeper understanding now of the work that needs to be done to change outcomes.’’
The research yielded a series of recommendations providing a long-term pathway to increase gender inclusive leadership in this important sector.
“Our industry’s need for skilled workers across the full spectrum of jobs presents women with vast opportunities to secure rewarding mining careers,” said Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada, which is holding Mining Day on the Hill today. “This report sheds light on the need for more women to move beyond the traditional roles they have occupied and feel encouraged to tap into the highly skilled technical positions that are in abundance.”
Said Xstrata Nickel CEO Ian Pearce: “This report comes at a critical time for our industry. Our long-term success is based upon attracting, leveraging and retaining a diverse workforce and the real opportunity is to make gender inclusion part of the overall business conversation. I encourage our industry’s most senior executives to demonstrate bold leadership and act upon the insights and knowledge contained within this report. The time is upon us, and frankly overdue.’’
Among the report’s findings:
- Most women in mining firms work on the support side rather than in operations, where the majority of executives are chosen.
- Women are hindered by intolerance of family responsibilities, lack of formal work-family balance policies, lack of mobility and insufficient mentorship and networking policies.
- The traditional command-based leadership style persists in many parts of mining operations.
Among the recommendations:
- Mining CEOs need to work together to develop strategies and measure their success.
- Consider getting women into leadership positions more quickly by transferring skills from other sectors.
- Develop special programs and training to attract Aboriginal women from communities close to mine sites.
- Increase public awareness of job opportunities for women in multiple occupations within the industry.
- Mining companies should initiative policies and practices that support family-related responsibilities and equally make it possible for men’s family responsibilities to be supported.
The full report is available at http://www.carleton.ca/cwppl/.
To book at interview with Ms. Beckton, please contact: Steven Reid, media relations officer, at 613-520-2600, ext. 8718, or steven_reid3@carleton.ca.
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About Carleton’s Centre for Women in Politics and Public Leadership:
The centre promotes equitable representation of women in democratic institutions at all levels of government and in all positions of leadership within the public, private and non-profit sectors.
This non-partisan centre works to strengthen public leadership by providing outstanding education, training, dialogue and research. The centre works with a wide range of partners to enhance women’s influence and leadership in public life, in Canada and internationally.
For more information
Steven Reid
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
(613) 520-2600, ext. 8718
(613) 240-3305
Steven_Reid3@Carleton.ca